Adrian
Two commercial aircraft were forced to execute go-arounds at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Thursday to avoid a potential collision with a military helicopter, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The incident occurred less than a month after the FAA increased staffing and oversight at the airport following a fatal midair collision in January.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., air traffic controllers instructed DELTA AIR LINES FLIGHT 1671 and REPUBLIC AIRWAYS FLIGHT 5825 to perform go-arounds due to a PRIORITY AIR TRANSPORT helicopter en route to the Pentagon Army Heliport. The FAA confirmed the incident in a statement, emphasizing that no injuries or damage were reported.
A Department of Defense official acknowledged the incident in an email to Fox News Digital but did not provide further details. The U.S. Army has yet to respond to requests for comment.
This near-miss comes on the heels of heightened scrutiny of DCA’s air traffic control operations. In March, the FAA announced permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around the airport and eliminated mixed traffic involving helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Additionally, the agency prohibited the simultaneous use of runways 15/33 and 4/22 when helicopters conducting urgent missions are operating near DCA.
The FAA’s measures were implemented after a January 29 midair collision between a commercial plane and a BLACK HAWK ARMY HELICOPTER over the Potomac River, which claimed 67 lives. A subsequent report revealed that the Black Hawk pilot had failed to heed flight instructions moments before the crash.
Despite the new guidelines, the circumstances surrounding Thursday’s incident remain unclear. FAA officials are currently evaluating arrival rates at DCA, which are disproportionately concentrated in the last 30 minutes of each hour. The airport’s runway is the busiest in the United States, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
The FAA continues to prioritize safety enhancements at DCA, including increased staffing and supervision, to prevent future incidents.
[Sources: Federal Aviation Administration, Fox News Digital, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority]
